Safai Bank to dispose waste of FMCG eatables

Mumbai: Now one can deposit used packets of chocolates, snacks and other items that use plastic packaging without fretting over its proper disposal. ‘Safai Bank’, an initiative started by a NGO — Mumbai Sustainability Centre (MSC), lets you deposit waste from multi-layered packaging from fast moving consumer goods in an account created under your name, and the NGO would take care of the waste without sending it to landfills. Citizens can contact Safai Bank on ‘https://safaibank.org/’.  

The initiative entails collection points in schools and colleges where students have to deposit the multi-layered packaging waste from snacks like chips, biscuits, and chocolates among others.

“We have created an online mechanism where each student has their account and the amount of waste deposited by them on daily basis is updated. On an average, we are getting at least 20 items from one student in a month,” said Rishi Aggarwal, founder of MSC. The items are then transferred to recyclers without leaving a single waste to accumulate in the landfills of Mumbai.

The NGO has tied up with two schools and one college for the initiative along with Ambuja Cement Private Limited for recycling these waste, however by September 15, there will be at least 10 more schools and colleges. Safai Bank mimics the working of a regular Bank.

“While items like PET bottles can be recycled, these packets are recyclable, due to which even the rag pickers and civic marshals leave it when found on the beaches. The associated company will be either using it for making cement roads or they will incinerate these items in 2,000 degrees temperature, which is environment friendly too.

“Usually these items burn in 100-150 degrees when they catch fire in the dumping grounds, which causes pollution,” added Mr Aggarwal.

Kamala Raheja College of Architecture and Environmental Studies recorded their first collection of MLP waste on August 23, where the college collected at least 480 waste items.